A drinker who lost the plot with his long-term partner and a lodger at their home has been jailed for 80 days.
Appearing from custody at Forfar, Sidney Cargill admitted assaulting a woman at his home in Arbroath’s Lamley Terrace on August 21 by punching her on the face and behaving in a threatening manner towards the woman and another man by repeatedly shouting and swearing, and preventing them from leaving the property.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court 53-year-old Cargill and his partner of eight years had been out drinking in various town pubs during the evening of August 21 and the accused had consumed around half a dozen pints and the same number of nips of rum.
They then picked up a takeaway and took a taxi home, but as they began to eat their meal Cargill became argumentative about his partner going back to college.
The row escalated to the point where she said she was not prepared to put up with his behaviour and was going to leave.
Cargill followed her up the stairs, before then going to the lodger’s room and making accusations towards him.
“The complainer went to leave by the front door but was blocked by the accused, and then she tried to leave by the rear door but was blocked again by the accused outside,” added the fiscal.
The court heard the man and woman were able to get out of the house, but were then confronted by Cargill and he punched his partner, causing a small cut to her nose.
As police were called he told the man: “If I’m going to get lifted I might as well hit you too.”
Defence solicitor Angela McLardy told the court: “The complainer expects the relationship to continue and is in full support of him.
“His is fully aware that all his problems relate to alcohol use. There have been times when he has been able to control his drinking, but unfortunately not at present and he accepts that he needs assistance.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Cargill: “There are analogous matters and a clear pattern of domestic abuse. The report is not in particularly positive terms and in light of your record it seems the only option open to me is to impose a sentence of imprisonment.”